Sofa-bedstead



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. R. PLIMPTON.

SOFA BEDSTEAD.

No. 250,453. Patented Dec. 6,1881.

1 Fig.2. WITNESSES INVENTUR Mylar. w M 53; M %M (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. R. PLIMPTON.

SOFA BEDSTEAD. No. 250,453. Patented Dec. 6,1881.

1 7 17 W////////////////////// ANN Fig 1 \A/ITNESEIES lNVE-NTE'R N. PETERS PhalwLllMgmpMr. Washington, D C.

Uwrran STATES rare HENRY R. PLIMPTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOFA-BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,453,'dated December 6, 1881.

Application filed March 16,1880. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY It. PLIMPTON, of

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Sofa-Bed, of which the following is a specification. 7 My invention relates to articles of furniture usually called sofa-bed, bed-lounge, or "ottoman-bed and itconsists in makingthe body of the bed in three longitudinal divisions, the two side divisions swinging upon hingedjoints, while the central division is stationary.

My invention also consistsin placing the pivots upon which the side divisions swing nearly on a level with the top of the mattress also, in sustaining theswinging end pieces of the back division by means of automatic latches of peculiar construction; also, in making a tuckpocket preferably between the wadded part of the mattress and the spring part; also, in some minor details, which may be best understood hy reference to the specification and drawings.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinvention,exclusive ofthe mattress, as applied to a sofa-bed, the back being up, as when it is to be used as asofa. Fig. 2 isa plan ofthe same, the back being down to serve as the rear longitudinal side section ofthe bed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the line 00 m ofFig.2, to show the automatic latch device for holding up the end parts of the back division. Fig.4 is across vertical section taken on line y 3 of Fig. 2, and shows more particularly the method of hinging the sections of the bed together. Fig. 5 is a cross-section to show the divisions of the mattress or bed, the front di vision from the left, together with the middle division,formingthe seat of the sofa or lounge, the right-hand or last division forming the back of the sofa or lounge, all three of the divisions, when horizontal, forming the bed. Fig. 6 is a section showing the swinging parts of the mattress-that is, the part that forms the seat and back-turned up. Fig. 7 is aperspective sketch, showing the tncki ng devicein the mattress. Fig. 8 is a plan showing the met 10d ofTirrangin g the wire frame of the mattress and tucking device.

The form of my invention which I have shown in the drawings and propose to describe of the back are hinged to the part I) by the hinges d d d d, Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The end pieces, D D of the back form a continuation of the same when the back is used as a sofa, as shown in Fig. 1; but when the device is to be used as a bed, then the end pieces are turned up to form, with the arms, a head and afoot board, asshown in Fig. 3, in which case the piece D is shown as being held up by the latch-hook C. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) Thislalch-hookGis pivoted to the back at O, and is provided with a hook, (3 Fig. 3, which engages with a metallic plate, (1*, set in the part D. The end 0 of the latch serves as a handle for lifting the latch, when it is desirable to disengage it from the plate 0*, in order to allow the part D to turn to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. In upholstering, this latch, including the handle G is entirely concealed from view, though easily found by the hand. This latch is automaticin its action of engaging with the plate C, as in lifting the part D up, as soon as it reaches the desired position, the latch falls into place and firmly holds it. When the back D D D is turned down, the leg or legs--oneof which is shown in Fig. 5--falls into place and becomes a support for that part.

An examination of Figs. 5 and 6 will show that the mattress El, H, and H and the corresponding supporting parts E, E, and D are divided into three longitudinal divisions. The two side divisions, E and D-o.ne lorming the seat, the other the back-are pivoted on hinges at K and K, (see Fig. 4,) while the central division, H and E, Figs.2, 4, 5, and 6, is stationary, its base E being firmly bolted to the frame of the sofa or lounge.

The hinges upon WlllCll the side divisions turn are shown at K K, Figs. 2 and 4. These hinges are firmly attached to the buttresses (See Figs. 1, 2, and 4..) These buttress-pieces stand so far above the base of the mattress, as shown in Fig. 4 and indicated in Fig. 6, that the axial lines upon which the mattress bends are very near the upper surface of the mattress, so that in bending or turning up the side divisions of the mattress, as shown in Fig. 6, it is only the padding of the mattress that has to be crowded at all, and that but slightly. The object of keeping these axial lines so high tip-that is, so near the top of the mattressis to prevent wrinkling and displacement of the parts of the mattress that are near the said axial lines. This arrangement also enables me tomake a sofa-seatplaiu, while the back is tufted.

.Heretofore sofa-beds have been so constructed that there has been no opportunity to do what is usually called "tucking upthat is, the covering part of the bed would have to lie loosely over the edges; but I have so constructed mine that the clothing can be as readily tucked as in an ordinary bed. I accomplish this by leaving the edges of the padding free from the burlap, as shown at M N, Figs. 5 and 7. The particular device by which 1 accomplish this is to make a frame of wire, M .1 M, Figs. 7 and 8, and to line it with burlap or any suitable material, and toattach the padding to this frame and burlap, the inner ends of the wires M M M being attached directly to the burlap that covers the springs, as indicated at N, Fig. 7. The tufts near the edge of the bed pass through the upper fold of the burlap that is attached to thewires M M, while the tufts for the other part pass through and are attached to the burlap P, which covers the springs. (See Fig. 5.) This arrangement allows of tucking up, and does not injurethe appearance of the article.

that the seat will stay in place without being tufted. In other words, it may remain plain, and will not pufl' up and badly wrinkle when the sofabed is arranged for use as a sofa.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a sofa-bed, the pivoted latch-hooks U C (3 in combination with the back D and hinged slotted end pieces, D D substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a sofa-bed, the combination of the raised buttress-pieces E E E and their hinges K K with the depressed mattress-supporting parts E E D, whereby the mattress is caused to be bent on a line at or near its upper surface, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a sofa-bed, the combination of a fixed central longitudinal division, H, of the mattress and its su )ort E with the side divisions,

H E H D, buttress-pieces E E and hinges K K, all operating together substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. A sofa-bed provided with a tucking-recess, M N N, formed in the edges of the mattress, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY RICHARDSON PLIMPTON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM EDsoN, HELEN M. FEEGAN. 

